Regional Roads Victoria faced a critical challenge: reducing the high incidence of road trauma, stress, and the risk of serious injuries for motorcyclists along the Great Ocean Road, one of the world’s most famous scenic routes.

Regional Roads Victoria was concerned for some time following hazard identification and risk assessment work they completed. This picturesque road, known for its breathtaking coastal views, has several hazardous curves and corners with a history of speed-related motorcycle crashes.

The combination of heavy tourist traffic, high speeds, and challenging road conditions created a perfect storm for accidents, particularly in wet weather.  Many bends along the road have wet surfaces where runoff from the hillside crosses the Great Ocean Road.

A durable and sustainable solution to enhance road safety, particularly in these high-risk areas, and to provide motorcyclists and other road users with a safer traveling experience was needed.

The solution needed to significantly improve traction and braking efficiency to prevent loss-of-control accidents, reduce braking distances, and ultimately decrease the frequency and severity of run-off road crashes, ensuring people get home safely every day.

In addition to the immediate safety concerns, there was also a need for solutions to improve financial sustainability, as well as other broader economic imperatives.

Road crashes have a substantial financial impact, including emergency response and healthcare costs and broader societal costs such as lost productivity and long-term care for those injured.

The annual national crash costs were estimated to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars, with a significant portion attributed to motorcyclists.

The solution also needed to be a long-lasting one to save maintenance and replacement costs while minimising disruption on these busy parts of the Great Ocean Road.

The chosen solution needed to address these multifaceted challenges comprehensively, offering both immediate and long-term benefits.

To tackle these challenges, OmniGrip Direct implemented its High Friction Surface Treatment (OmniGrip HF) skid-resistant road surfacing across multiple critical sections of the Great Ocean Road.

This advanced surface treatment involves the application of calcined bauxite, a material known for its exceptional durability and superior slips, trips and falls prevention qualities.

5,328m² of OmniGrip HF was meticulously applied to corners and curves with a documented history of crashes, significantly improving traction for motorcyclists and other road users.

This high-friction surface is designed to provide enhanced grip in both dry and wet conditions, effectively reducing the risk of loss-of-control incidents.

The application process of OmniGrip HF surface was thorough and precise, ensuring that the surface remains effective over a long period despite heavy traffic and varying weather conditions. This treatment is not just a temporary fix but a long-term solution to improve product life cycles that significantly enhances road safety.

By increasing traction and reducing braking distances, OmniGrip HF helps prevent crashes, particularly in high-risk areas such as sharp curves and steep descents.

The benefits of this solution extend beyond immediate safety improvements. The durability of the OmniGrip HF surface means that it requires less frequent maintenance and replacement compared to traditional road surfaces and lower performing surfaces such as High PSV Asphalt, leading to long-term cost savings for Regional Roads Victoria.

Additionally, the improved safety conditions can lead to fewer road closures and disruptions, ensuring a smoother travel experience for all road users. This comprehensive approach not only addresses the immediate need for improved road safety but also provides lasting benefits in terms of reduced maintenance costs and enhanced road user satisfaction.

The application of OmniGrip HF has shown remarkable results.

• Improved Vehicle Stability and Braking: The treatments have been instrumental in enhancing vehicle stability and reducing braking distances at high-risk areas such as intersections, crosswalks, and tight corners.
•  Crash Reduction: For curves, crash reductions range from 57% to 78.8%, and for wet-road crashes, reductions range from 83.2% to 92.1%.
•  Economic Benefits: Reducing the estimated costs of crashes nationally of around $350 million each year (around $172 million for motorcyclists, $147 million for pedestrians, and $31 million for bicyclists).

• Enhanced Road Safety: OmniGrip HF has drastically reduced the likelihood of loss-of-control crashes, providing safer travel for all road users.
• Cost Efficiency: The long-lasting nature of the OmniGrip HF means lower maintenance costs and fewer replacements, contributing to overall cost savings.
• Compliance and Effectiveness: OmniGrip HF complies with all national and state road authority specifications (including VicRoads Specification 430), and is the first high-friction surface treatment to achieve Level 3 TIPES certification in Queensland – the toughest product certification process for road surfaces in Australia.